Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans continues to expand its presence and capabilities as a top-tier legal services provider, this time in Durban South Africa, where corporate law and M&A specialist, Andrew Davidson, has joined as a partner with effect from 1 September 2024.
Davidson specialises in all aspects of M&A and private equity transactions including acquisitions, leveraged transactions, structuring of management arrangements, refinancing, restructurings and disposals. His experience extends to general banking and finance, particularly bilateral transactions and preference share transactions.
‘Andrew’s skills and experience align with our growth aspirations for our South African M&A Practice and our plans for our presence in Durban. This is a city where the spirit of entrepreneurship thrives and where we feel we can make a larger contribution to its continued success,’ says Bowmans’ chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids.
Davidson’s technical skills in M&A and breadth of experience, both as in-house general counsel and in legal practice, supplement those of the existing team members and will help to service the local client base which has been expanding steadily in the past few years.
Before joining Bowmans, Davidson spent six and a half years at Eversheds-Sutherlands’ Durban office, where he was partner and head of the Commercial team. Prior to that, he was head of legal services and principal officer of Idwala Industrial Holdings for almost four years. This was preceded by two years as legal advisor at mining company Shaft Sinkers.
Davidson has BCom and LLB degrees from the University of Cape Town, as well as a Higher Diploma in Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Bowmans Durban, which recently relocated to new premises in Umhlanga Ridge, now has five partners and two senior consultants, advising clients on shipping and logistics, tax, banking and finance, corporate law, dispute resolution and M&A transactions.
Head of Corporate at Bowmans, Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe, concludes, ‘Andrew’s arrival is well-timed when prospects in the M&A market are starting to look up and there is renewed optimism among businesses and corporates in South Africa.’